Traction maintaining turning frame



Sept. 28, 1954 c. w. HOGAN 2,690,177

TRACTION MAINTAINING TURNING FRAME Filed May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 28, 1954 c. w. HOGAN 2,690,177 TRACTION MAINTAINING TURNING FRAME Filed May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT 2,690,177- e I TRACTION MAINTAINING RAME Clifford W. Hogan, Minneapolisglliinni Application May 25, 1951, SeriaLNo; 228,268

- 1 This invention relates generally to turnin frame assemblies for hospital use and the like and particularly to a. turning frame designed to facilitate maintaining constant traction on a pa tient lying therein, even while the frame is being turned.

. In conventional types of turning frames, it is diiiicult, if not impossible, to maintain a constant tractipn on a patient by the use of a pulley and weight system, while the patient is being turned, and during this period the pulley and weight system must be removed to prevent possible injury to the patient.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved turning frame designed to permit a pulley and weight traction system to be maintained even while a patient held in the turning f ame is bein tu ned.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a turning frame having provision for permitting the flexible cord element; of a pulley and weight traction system to be aligned with the axis of turning to permit. the frame to be turned about its axis without causing any variation in the tension in the cord.

, Still more specifically, it is an object to provide a turning frame provided with a supporting structurehaving a pair of hollow trunnions respectively journaled in the end portions thereof to permit the flexible cord of a pulley and weight traction system, to be threaded therethrough to lie substantially coincident with the axis of turning and thereby permit the frame to be turned about said trunnions without varying the tension in the cord and withQut causing any shifting movement of the cord during the turning operation, the

frame mounted on said trunnions having guiding means to permit straight line pull to be exerted by the cord on the patient and to guide the cord to the inner end of the hollow trunnion to permit the same to extend therethrough without excessive friction being applied to the cord.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with th accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete turning frame embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view of one end of my turning frame;

Fig.8 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2- and with portions thereof broken a a and Fig.4 is a side elevational view of one end of frame with portions thereof cut away.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a turning frame adapted to be mounted on a conventional supporting. structure, which, in the form shown, consists in a wheeled base 8 havingthe longitudinally disposed spaced parallel 7 leg carrying angles 9. The angles 9 are adapted 4Claims. (o1. lzs siij I to receive the longitudinal portion of the divergent legs Ill, which, inthe form shown, comprise.

a pair of elongated tubular members respective.- ly bent'toform: a relatively rigid pair of supporting legs which have their upper ends respectively fixed to a pair of longitudinally spaced stationary interconnection members I and combine therewith to form a supporting cradle for they turningv frame. An overhead frame i2 is rigidly ijxedto said interconnection member II, as by being set screwed thereto.

An aperture is formed in. the central portion of each of the interconnection members and a pair of hollow trunnions |3 are respectively journaled therein. A pair of turning frame mounting members or hubs it are fixedto the ree spective trunnions I3 and a pair of externally threadedframe mounting spindles l5 and |6 are fixed in oppositely extendin relation to each of said, mounting members. Conventional upper and lower patient supporting frames Ila and Nb are shown respectively mounted on the two pairs of spindles l5 andlB, and are securely retained thereon by the thumb screws |5a and |6a respectively Suitable guiding means for guiding a traction applying flexible cord l8 are provided for one or both ends of the turning frame, such as the sheaves l9 and 2s mounted on mounting member Hi. The lower sheave I9 is mounted on aswingable arm 2| which may be swung upwardly or downwardly to vertically position the sheave l9, and permitv the desired line or pull to be maintained on the patient lying in the frame. The sheave 2|] is also mounted on a swingable arm 22 to guidethe line l8 through the center of the hollow trunnion l3. Botharms 2| and 22 may be secured in their adjusted position by such means as threaded clamps 2|a for clamping arm 2|. at its pivot and 22a for clamping arm 22 at its pivot on the mounting member-M. As will be seen from inspection of Fig. 4 the arm. 22 is adjustable for axially positioning cable It through the bore of trunnion I3 and arm 2| is adjustable for applying traction longitudinally of a patients body at a preselected radial distance with respect to the axis of the bore. The trunnions |3 are retained in the interconnection members by locking 001- lars 23 respectively secured thereto as by any suitable means such as set screws. Outer guiding means are also provided, such as the sheave 24 journaled on suitable supporting arms 25 which are fixed to each of the interconnection members II and extend outwardly therefrom. This outer guiding sheave 24 permits the weights attached to line l8 to hang free and exert a constant pull thereon. Any conventional means for normally holding. the hubs M in fixed relation to the respective interconnection members may be provided such as the spring pressed pins 26 slidably mounted in the. respective interconnection members and normally urged by suitablespringstoward the respective'hubs [4 which are provided with suitably positioned apertures to respectively receive the pins 26 and lock the hubs [4 against rotation. Obviously, the pins 26 may be retracted at each end of the frames Ila and I'll) when it is desired to turn the patient over.

With my improved turning frame, a weight and pulley traction system may be constantly maintained on a patient in predetermined tensioned relation to the patient even while the patient is being turned over for temporary examination or treatment. Since the pulleys or sheaves l9 and It always remain in predetermined relation to the patient who is securely fixed to the frames Ila and Ilb, there is no variation in the length of the cord and no shifting of the cord during the turning operation. The outer guiding sheave 24 remains in fixed position at all times and the portion of the cord 18 extending between sheaves 20 and 24 lies in the axis of turning, of the frames Ila and Ill) and thereby prevents any shifting of the cord during the turnin operation.

Doctors have used turning frames for a number of years but have always had the problem of not being able to constantly maintain the desired traction on the patient held therein. The cord I8 is, of course, fastened to the patient in any conventional manner to apply the desired traction and my improved device permits this traction to be constantly maintained.

It will be seen that I have provided an extremely ingenious yet relatively simple turning frame construction which is designed to position a portion of a traction applying cord in substantial alignment with the axis of turning to permit a weight and pulley traction system to be used and permit the traction applied thereby to be maintained substantially constant even during the turning operation. Suitable cord guiding means are provided to reduce the frictional resistance to ultimate positioning of the weight and thus aid in maintainin a substantially constant adjusted tension therein.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements, and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An invalid bed for turning a patient while maintaining a portion of the patients body under traction comprising a supporting frame, a turning frame disposed for holding and turning the body of said patient about a longitudinal axis across opposed portions of the supporting frame, cooperating trunnioned elements between said supportin frame and said turning fram at the opposed junctures thereof, each of said cooperating trunnioned elements comprising an interconnection member fixed to the supporting frame and a mounting member fixed to said turning frame, both of said members in at least one of said cooperating trunnioned elements having an opening in axial alignment with said longitudinal axis for guided travel of a traction cabl therethrough, and guide means on said mounting member offset radially from said axis whereby a weighted traction cable may extend in guided relation through said opening and connect with the body of said patient at a preselected traction point irrespective of the angular inclination of the patients body.

2. An invalid bed for turning a patient while maintaining a portion of the patients body under traction comprising a supporting frame, a turning frame disposed for holding and turning the body of said patient about a longitudinal axis across opposed portions of the supporting frame, cooperating trunnioned elements between said supporting frame and said turning frame at the opposed junctures thereof, each of said cooperating trunnioned elements comprising an interconnection member fixed to the supporting frame and a mounting member fixed to said turning frame, both of said members in at least one of said cooperating trunnioned elements having an opening in axial alignment with said longitudinal axis and defining a passageway therethrough, outer guid means secured to said interconnection member adjacent said axis, and movable guide means secured to said mounting member and rotatable therewith, whereby a Weighted traction cable may extend in guided relation through said opening and connect with the body of said patient at a preselected traction point irrespective of the angular inclination of the patients body.

An invalid bed for turning a patient while maintaining a portion of the patients body under traction comprising a supporting frame, a turning frame disposed for holding and turning the body of said patient about a longitudinal axis across opposed portions of the supporting frame, cooperating trunnioned elements between said supporting frame and said turning frame at the opposed junctures thereof, each of said cooperating trunnioned elements comprising an interconnection member fixed to the supporting frame and a mounting member fixed to said turning frame, both of said members in at least one of said cooperatin trunnioned elements having an opening in axia1 alignment with said longitudinal axis and defining a passageway therethrough, fixedly mounted guide means secured to said interconneotion member and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent said axis and movable guide means secured to said mounting member and rotatable therewith about said axis, whereby a weighted traction cable may extend in guided relation through said opening and connect with the body of said patient at a preselected traction point irrespective of the angular inclination of the patients body.

4. In a bed for turning the body of a patient while maintaining a portion thereof under constant traction comprising a supporting frame, a turning frame trunnioned for longitudinal oscillation across said supporting frame, th trunnioned portion having an axial opening disposed therethrough in at least one of said trunnions, guide elements for guiding a weighted traction cable axially of said opening, and an offset guide member adjustable radially with respect to the axis of said opening and mounted for rotation on said supporting frame whereby the portion of the patients body under traction will be maintained under directional traction at a preselected tension irrespective of the angular inclination of the patients body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 552,672 Sourney et a1 Jan. 7, 1896 689,642 Fannon Dec. 24, 1901 1,584,781 Langworthy May 18, 1926 1,999,357 Ward Feb. 5, 1935 2,188,592 Cunningham Jan. 30, 1940 2,239,821 Knox Apr. 29, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 514,525 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1939 

